KENTUCKY (10/27/13) - Hi everyone! I am back! I had some things come up in my life that needed my attention, but they have been resolved and I am back with new articles. I sure did miss writing.

We all find ourselves, at one time or another, at a crossroad where there is an important decision that we have to make. It may be a decision about a relationship that we are thinking about pursuing. It may be that we don’t like our current job and we are thinking about changing careers or a decision about whether to extend our family. Whether we like it or not, life is all about change. Change is how we evolve and grow.

Have you ever made a decision about something important to later find out that you made the wrong decision? Of course, we all have! We all know too well how bad decisions can cause a negative domino effect in other areas of our lives. For example, picking the wrong spouse for us can lead to an unhappy life which could lead us to take our unhappiness out on the kids. In turn, the children become unhappy and unstable adults. If left unchecked, the vicious cycle can continue for generations.

So, how can we start making better decisions for ourselves? I am on this life journey just like you and have not learned all the answers. However, I do want to share with you a strategy that has helped me time and time again make better decisions. Before I get to it, I would like to make one important point. We as a society stay in too much of a hurry. We hurry through so many things, including our decision making. The first thing we need to do when making a big life decision is SLOW DOWN.

I’m going to call this technique, “Going Deep Within”.

First, find a time and place where you will not be interrupted. This step is important.

Next, sit or lie down and just become still. Slow down all the chatter in your mind. Watch your thoughts float in and then out of your mind. Tell yourself that you will think about things later, but for now this is your time to be still.

Next, pay attention to your breath and slow it down. Concentrate on your breath. You do this to help quite your mind. Lay there for several minutes, but do not fall asleep.

Next, bring to mind the situation that you need clarity about. Play the situation out in your mind.

Then, ask God or your inner voice what the answer to this is. Ask what the best thing for you to do.

Now here comes the hard part…wait for the answer. What will the answer look like? It may be a deep feeling in your soul or it may come in something you read. It may come in the form of a message your pastor gives, something a good friend may tell you, or even a song.

Repeat this exercise until you get the answer. You may get it first thing, but then again it may take days or weeks.

Doing all this is work. I admit that. It takes dedication to do this every day until you get an answer. However, I have witnessed in myself and others what happens when we rush and make decisions without thinking them out clearly. Sometimes a lifetime of heartache ensues. So I ask you, would you rather be patient and wait for the right answer, or would you rather hurry up and make a decision based on feelings alone and hope for the best? If the old way of doing things is not working, why keep on doing what you know will not work?

For me, the reward I get when I do this and then make my decision is that I know that I have made the right decision for me and that is peace of mind.

Disclaimer: The content supplied by columnists and letters to the Editor on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such content, statement, or opinions therein. SurfKY News does not necessarily adhere to or endorse content provided by outside non-staff sources.